# DB48X — Spirit of the HP48, revived

> High-precision scientific calculator with arbitrary precision and HP48 features. (iPhone/iPad app by Christophe de Dinechin.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db48x/id6615086535 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Christophe de Dinechin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1761608161)
- Category: Productivity, Developer Tools
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 4 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 7 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2024-08-12
- Data updated: 2026-08-28
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db48x/id6615086535/reviews.md

## What is DB48X?

DB48X is a new high-precision scientific calculator inspired by the legendary HP48 series from Hewlett-Packard.
It is not an emulator, but a redesign from scratch, which is faster, and delivers never seen before capabilities like computations in arbitrary precision.

Like the original HP48, DB48X supports an unlimited stack, RPN and algebraic operations, complex numbers, based numbers, vectors, matrices, text, symbolic computations, numerical solving and integration, graphing and plotting, statistics, engineering units, and well over 1000 built-in functions. DB48X adds several HP50G capabilities, including a library of equations and constants covering mathematics, physics or chemistry.

Using modern technologies, DB48X goes well beyond the original HP48 in many ways:
- It is significantly faster, uses less memory, and features a higher-resolution 240x400 pixels graphical display.
- Integer and decimal values can have an arbitrarily large number of digits, so you can compute log(pi) with 200 digits in a few keystrokes.
- The six function keys feature up to three function per key, giving quick access to up to 18 related functions at a time.
- Complex numbers can mix and match polar and rectangular form.
- Symbolic operations extend to complex numbers, vectors and matrices.
- Based numbers can be in any base from 2 to 36, and support any number of bits, making it easy to emulate a 23-bit or 512-bit processor.
- Text is represented using Unicode instead of the proprietary HP encoding, facilitating data exchange with the rest of the world.
- Multiple graphs can be distinguished using bitmap patterns (DB50X adds the ability to use colors)
- Engineering units include all the modern evolutions of the SI system, and can be configured by the user, e.g. to integrate currency units with the exchange rate du jour. Converting between USD/hour and EUR/day has never been so easy!
- A built-in hyperlinked help system documents functions simply by holding the corresponding key, and combine a quick start guide, a user manual and a reference manual.

DB48X will run many user RPL programs as is.
However, since it is not an emulator, it will not run any HP binary object, and notably will not run HP48 games or anything involving system RPL.

DB48X is part of a family of compatible RPL calculators that include the free DB40X and the color DB50X.

## Key features

- Arbitrary precision computations
- RPN and algebraic operations
- Complex numbers, vectors, and matrices
- Symbolic computations and numerical solving
- Graphing and plotting
- Engineering units and currency conversion
- Built-in hyperlinked help system

## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db48x/id6615086535/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Bill Hewlett would approve!

*2026-05-02*

If HP could build the best calculator today on modern hardware, this is what they would be coding.  There are some great RPN successors being independently developed.  db48 takes HP’s next-gen RPL calculators to the next level.  This app is still a work in progress but I love where it’s going!

## Frequently asked questions about DB48X

### What is DB48X?

DB48X is a high-precision scientific calculator inspired by the HP48 series. It's a redesign from scratch, offering enhanced speed and capabilities like arbitrary precision computations.

### Does DB48X emulate the HP48?

No, DB48X is not an emulator but a redesign. While it supports many HP48 features and user RPL programs, it cannot run HP binary objects or HP48 games.

### What kind of calculations can DB48X perform?

DB48X supports an unlimited stack, RPN and algebraic operations, complex numbers, vectors, matrices, symbolic computations, numerical solving, integration, graphing, plotting, and statistics, with over 1000 built-in functions.

### Can DB48X handle very large numbers?

Yes, integer and decimal values in DB48X can have an arbitrarily large number of digits, allowing for computations with high precision, such as log(pi) with 200 digits.

### What platforms is DB48X available on?

DB48X is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod, utilizing modern technologies for a high-resolution graphical display.

### How much does DB48X cost?

DB48X is a paid application priced at $4.99. It does not feature in-app purchases or advertisements.

### How often is DB48X updated?

DB48X was last updated on May 25, 2026, with its latest version being 0.9.19. This indicates a commitment to ongoing development and improvements.

### What is the age rating for DB48X?

DB48X has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including younger students and professionals.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 0.9.19 — 2026-05-25

This release brings an improved constants library with Astronomy and Materials sections, the Quote command, GCD and LCM commands, and several other improvements.

See release notes (https://github.com/c3d/db48x/releases/tag/v0.9.19) for details.

### 0.9.18 — 2026-04-17

New features:
* Implement the `Chuck` command
* Make `xq` recognize more patterns during simplification
* List the menus in the help file
* Support for tables in the help file
* `ListRecursionDepth` setting for `map`, `reduce`, `filter`

Bug fixes:
* Fix incorrect evaluation of constants during simplification

Improvements:
* Improve solver shuffle around singularities and errors

### 0.9.17 — 2026-03-10

Extended support for quotients, algebraic notation for array/list indexing (e.g. 'L(1;2)' ), copy-paste support.

### 0.9.16 — 2026-03-07

0.9.16 adds a number of new features and bug fixes, detailed in the release notes in the built-in help file. The primary new features include: prime numbers and factorization, displaying keyboard shortcuts in the built-in help, extended rational approximation (→Qπ).

### 0.9.14 — 2025-11-10

Immediate rendering for off-screen graphics, bug fixes.

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## More apps by Christophe de Dinechin

- [DB40X](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db40x/id6624315901)
- [DB50X](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db50x/id6625971367)

All apps by Christophe de Dinechin: https://appshunter.io/developer/1761608161

## Related topics

[hp48](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/hp48)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*